Drying form



S. A. HARRIS DRYING FORM June 14, 1938.

Filed June 29, 1933 mam Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in drying forms, and pertains more particularly and specifically to an extensible or adjustable form which is so constructed as to be quickly and easily disassembled into a knockdown condition.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an extensible or expansible garment drying form.

Another object is the provision of novel and improved means for holding the form in its adjusted position.

Another and further object is the provision of a garment drying form having an adjustable waist line.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved drying form which is cheap andsimple of manufacture and yet highly proficient in use.

Other specific objects, novel features of construction and improved results of the invention will appear in more detail from the following description when read in the light of the accompanyingdrawing.

Figure lis a view in front elevation of the improved form. r

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the form.

Fig. 3 is a detail cross-sectional view illustrating the manner of locking and securing the skirt or lower portion of the form in adjusted position.

Fig. 4- is a detail cross-sectional view illustrating the'manner of releasing the locking means illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the clip 35 for supporting the waist-line cross bar in adjusted position longitudinally of the form.

Fig.6 is a .plan view of the form in knockdown condition.

, Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the waistline cross bar.

Fig. 8 is a. detail view in longitudinal. section through the overlapping ends of the waist-line cross bar.

Having. reference now to the drawing, in which like parts-are designated by similar reference numerals throughout the description, A indicates the two removable and adjustable-sleeve portions of the form; B the-upper body portionsof the form and C the skirt portion. The waist-line cross bar is designatedas an entirety at D and the tubes which provide the longitudinal and transverse adjustment of the form are designated by E and F.

Describing the form in more detail, it will be seen that for the most part it is composed of round wire, but it is, of course, to be understood that it could be composed of half round or square wire or of any other material suitable for the purpose.

At its upper end the body portion B of the form is quite similar to a conventional coat hanger in that there is provided two cross-members l0 and II, arranged in horizontal separated relation and from the ends of which extendthe sleeve forms A. These cross-bars I0 and II are, however, hollow and the sleeve forms A are slidably. mounted in the cross-bars, whereby they can be adjusted to extend outwardly from the form any desired distance, or can be completely removed from the cross-bars as might be desirable when using the form in connection with a garment having an unusually high neck line and no sleeve.

Due to the U-shape of the sleeve forms they will remain in'their adjusted positions under spring resilient tension.

Extendingdownwardly from the upper crossbar H) in separated parallel relation and having connection with the cross-bar ll andextending downwardly beyond said cross-bar to form the upper body portions of the form are two rods 12 and. I3. Intermediate their lengths. and at a point constituting the waist-line of the form these rods are bent inwardly as indicated, while their lower ends are provided with a plurality of notches or kerfs l5, as clearly appears in Figure 6, of the drawing. The bowed portions l4 of these wires are provided with a plurality of notches or kerfs I4.

The lower or skirt portion of the form is made up of two wires bent into an L-shape to have vertical leg. portions l1 and horizontal leg portions l8. Both of these wires, adjacent their ends, are provided with notches or kerfs l9 and 20.

The lowerends of the wires [2 and. [3 are slidable within the tubes E, and the upper ends of the vertical legs I! are also slidable within these tubes. The horizontal legs or wires l8 have their ends slidable within the tube F.

The tubes E and F, adjacent their ends, are provided with a slit 2| and a spring clip Hcoacts with thisslit 2| in a manner indicated in Figs. .3 and 4 of the drawing.

It will be seen that this clip has a rounded portion 22, which bears on one side of the tube, and that it has a straight end 23 which passes through the slit 2| in the tube for engagement with a kerf in the wire which slides in the tube. The legs 22 and 23 are joined by a U-shape portion 24 and as a consequence the clip Ill might be described as being of a U-shape.

Fig. 3 of the drawing illustrates the locked position from which it will be seen that the straight leg 23 of the clip is in engagement with a kerf H) of the wire, thus locking the wire against reciprocation within the tube.

Fig. 4: of the drawing shows the manner of releasing the clip lock in the event it is desired to adjust the wires of the form by sliding a wire within one of the tubes E or F. Here it will be seen that the wire is rotated a sufficient distance to cause a cam action which permits the wire to be moved along under the straight leg of the clip. When the form is properly adjusted and the wire has been moved as desired, it is rotated to again bring the clip into locking position.

It is to be understood that looking clips H are used in connection with all three of the tubes E and F. It will at once be apparent that the bottom of the skirt portion can be adjusted to widen or narrow the lower end of the form and that the form can be lengthened readily by reason of moving the longitudinal wires of the form within the tube E The waist-line cross bar D is made in two pieces 25 and 26 having overlapping relation as at 21, centrally of the form, while the ends of these bars are provided with eyes 23 of a size to loosely re ceive the rods l2 and [3, thus permitting the cross bar to be slid longitudinally of the bulged portions M of the form. The cross barleg 25 is provided with a protrusion 29 adapted to seat within any one of the holes 3!! provided in the cross bar leg 26. This construction permits a lengthening and shortening of the cross bar D and the clips 3! will retain the cross bar legs in their adjusted positions in respect to one another.

From the description thus far given, it will be apparent that the waist-line portion of the form can be widened or narrowed as desired.

To retain the cross bar D in its adjusted position longitudinal of the bulged portions M of the form wires 12 and I3, clips J are provided. These clips are of spring metal and their upper ends 32 are fashioned in circular form for spring attachment to the eyes 28 of the cross bar D. These clips are further provided with a leg portion 33, terminating at its end in a bulge or offset 34, which is adapted for spring engagement with any one of the kerfs M of the wires l2 and I3. The clips are provided with a lip 35 which offers easy engagement for the finger of the person in releasing the clip when it is desired to move the waist line cross bar longitudinally of the form.

From the structure just defined, it will be seen that a second adjustment of the waist-line of the form is provided, whereby the waist-line can be raised and lowered.

The upper bar is provided with a hook 36 by means of which the form can be hung.

In actual use there might be some tendency of the garment drying on the form to work or shrink upwardly and to prevent this clothes pins or clips 37 would be ordinarily used.

From the structure as defined, it will be apparent that the form can be quickly knocked down or disassembled and can be readily and quickly assembled. Figure 6 of the drawing illustrates the form in disassembled or knock-down condition.

Although the release of the spring clip lock H has been described as being effected by rotating the wires of the frame, attention is called to the fact that the release of the lock can be effected by rotating the tube rather than the wire.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is provided a drying frame on which woolen, silk, cotton knitted or woven dresses, skirts and sweaters may be dried after laundering with soap and water and that these garments when dried will be retained in their original shapes as well as measurements. The form is also applicable for use for garments of the nature mentioned above when they have been dry cleaned with any of the popular cleaning fluids in common use to-day.

Although it would add slightly to the expense of the form, the form could be plated and thus rendered rust-proof. The form is of simple and inexpensive construction and is practical for use in either the home, dry cleaning establishments or laundries. Although the form or frame conforms to the general outline of the human body, it can be utilized in connection with either one or two-piece garments.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A drying frame, comprising a plurality of frame members formed into a shape approximating the shape of a garment to be dried thereon, a bar connecting the opposite sides of said frame member at the waist-line of said frame form, the side frame members at the waist line of said form being bent inwardly towards one another to form an arc in each side frame member and provided with a plurality of transversely arranged kerfs in separated parallel relation, said bar movable longitudinally of the arc portions of said side frame members, and resilient members carried by the bar and adapted to selectively engage said kerfs for the purpose described.

2. A drying form comprising a plurality of frame members formed in a shape approximating the shape of a garment to be dried thereon, side frame members forming a portion of said form, said side frame members at the waist line of said form being bent inwardly towards one another to form an arc in each side frame member, kerfs cut in the arc portion of each frame member, a cross-bar interconnecting the arc portions of the frame, said bar being adjustable for the purpose of being. lengthened and shortened, means to hold the bar in its adjusted position as to length, said bar being movable longitudinally of the arc portions of the frame, and resilient means carried by the cross-bar and adapted to engage the kerfs to hold the bar in its adjusted longitudinal position, for the purpose described.

3. A drying form, comprising a multiple piece frame formed in a shape approximating the shape of the garment to be dried thereon, said frame including side and bottom frame members broken intermediate their lengths, the ends of said frame members being provided with'a plurality of transversely arranged kerfs in separated parallel re lation, tubes interconnecting said frame members and rotatable thereon, said tubes adjacent their ends being provided at one side with transversely arranged slits, spring clips encircling said tubes and having a portion seated within said slits and adapted to engage the kerfs in said frame members to lock said frame members against reciprocation within said tubes, for the purpose described.

4. A drying form comprising a plurality of frame members formed in a shape approximating the shape of a garment to be dried thereon, side frame members forming a portion of said form, said side frame members at the waist line of said form being bent inwardly towards one another to form an arc in each side frame member, kerfs cut in the arc portion of each frame member and arranged in separated parallel relation, a crossbar interconnecting the arc portions of the frame and movable longitudinally thereupon and re" silient means carried by the cross-bar and adapted to selectively engage said kerfs to hold the bar in selected adjusted position, for the purpose described.

5. A drying form comprising a multi-piece frame formed in a shape approximate the shape of the garment to be dried thereon, said frame including side and bottom frame members broken intermediate their lengths, said frame members being provided with a plurality of transversely extending kerfs arranged in separated parallel relation, tubes interconnecting and telescopically receiving said frame members, said tubes being provided with transversely arranged slits, a resilient means carried by said tubes and having a portion adapted to extend through said slits and engage the kerfs in said frame members to lock said frame members against reciprocation within said tubes, the parts operating as and for the purpose described.

6. A drying form comprising a frame-work composed of resilient wire formed into a shape to approximate a sleeved dress, the upper shoulder portion of said form being made rigid by a pair of transversely extending bars interconnecting the sides of said form and arranged in separated parallel relation, the sleeve portions of said frame being supported by and slidable upon said bars for lengthening and shortening the sleeve forms, the skirt portion of the main frame having its side members broken intermediate their length and adjustable towards one another for lengthening the skirt portion of the frame, the bottom portion of the frame being broken intermediate its length to enable the lower end of the frame being sprung outwardly or inwardly to widen or narrow the lower end of the frame, means to hold the frame in its adjusted position, a cross-bar extending transverse the frame at the waist line thereof, and said cross-bar adjustable as to length for the purpose of springing the waist line portion of the frame outwardly or drawing the waist line portion of the frame inwardly, for the purpose described.

7. A drying form comprising a multi-piece frame formed into a shape approximate the shape of the garment to be dried thereon, tubular members for telescopically receiving the ends of the frame pieces to provide theframe with adjustability, means extending through the side walls of said tubes and engaging the said frame pieces for locking the pieces in their adjusted positions, said tubular members being rotatable, and said locking means being automatically released from engagement with the frame pieces upon a partial rotation of said tubes.

8. A drying form, comprising a multiple piece frame formed into a shape approximating the shape of the garment to be dried thereon, said form including side and bottom frame members broken intermediate their lengths, tubular members interconnecting the free ends of said frame members, said frame members slidable within said tubular members, and resilient means extending through openings in the side Walls of said tubular members and engaging said frame members to lock the frame members against longitudinal movement within the tubular members, for the purpose described.

9. A drying form for garments including a main garment form, sleeve forms, a pair of supporting guides for said sleeve forms, said guides comprising a pair of tubes arranged in separated relation and carried by the main garment form, said sleeve forms being of an elongated U-shape and resilient in nature, the free ends of said sleeve forms, being reciprocable within the tubular guides and retained therein in their adjusted positions under inherent spring tension of the sleeve forms themselves.

10. A drying form comprising a framework formed into a shape approximating a sleeved dress, the upper shoulder portion of said form being made rigid by a pair of transversely extending tubular members interconnecting the sides of said form, and the sleeve portions of said frame being slidable in and supported by said transversely extending tubes, whereby the sleeve forms are lengthened or shortened by longitudinal movement within theirsupporting tubes.

11. A drying form comprising a multiple piece frame formed in a shape approximate the garment to be dried thereon, said frame including side and bottom frame members broken intermediate their lengths, said frame members being provided with a plurality of kerfs arranged in separated parallel relation, tubes interconnecting and telescopically receiving said frame members, each of said tubes being provided with an opening, and means carried by said tubes and passing loosely through said openings for selectively engaging the kerfs in said frame members to lock said frame members against reciprocation within the tubes, for the purpose described.

SADIE ANNA HARRIS. 

